But it was the same old story for Cowdenbeath, who have to go back to 1930 for the last time they defeated the club from the south side of Glasgow.

Nicky Law, top scorer in the SPFL for Rangers this season, eased the nerves of his side with the opening goal after only three minutes - his fifth of the campaign.

It was a fine strike, but they won’t be rushing to package this match on DVD at Sports Direct stores for a Christmas stocking filler.

Mike Ashley is good, but not that good, although the header Blue Brazil defender Kyle Miller put past his keeper early in the second half might just feature on a compilation of the greatest own goals ever scored.

It was a magnificent, powerful header from eight yards off the underside of his own bar from a Kris Boyd cross under little pressure and it gave his goalie Robbie Thomson no chance to make the save.

Sub David Templeton scored a third five minutes from time to give the scoreline the Glasgow gloss it deserved on Gers possession stats alone, although it was tough on Cowden, who were never over-awed.

The victory moved Rangers to within four points of leaders Hearts at the top of the championship and it was a case of job done on a night in which few players shone, including new Scotland call-up Lewis Macleod, whose frustration was summed up by a first half caution for a couple of mis-timed tackles.

The second goal allowed Ally McCoist’s men to play out the remainder of the match at training ground pace, and former Cowden defender Darren McGregor almost added a third with a header off a Templeton corner a minute before the former Hearts winger struck.

Templeton, who had replaced Steve Smith 16 minutes earlier, finished with some aplomb as he sprinted onto an Ian Black pass down the left and slotted his shot under Thomson.

Cowden fans in the crowd of 3,919 headed for the exits to sift through the wreckage of something other than stock cars at Central Park.

This was the first meeting of the clubs in the league at Central Park since 1971, when Rangers triumphed 3-1 - they won by a similar scoreline at the old ground in the quarter final of the League Cup in 1984 when Ally McCoist led the light blues’ attack.

Rangers have not lost away from home in the league for two years and they were keen to move to within four points of leaders Hearts at the top of the table against the club propping up the division before kick-off.

Jimmy Nicholl’s squad have found some sort of form of late with only one defeat in their previous five games, but it was a 6-0 thumping at Falkirk 10 days ago.

The mention of a midfield maestro at Central Park is as likely to conjure up images of a battered stock car as a championship playmaker and the ugly tyre marks scarring the pitch around the centre circle was evident of a recent mishap during the arena’s more popular past-time.

It was as far from Ibrox as Lochgelly from LA, but Rangers refused to be intimidated by their humble surroundings as they swept into the lead after only three minutes.

It was a superbly worked goal as Nicky Law broke down the inside right channel and picked out Kris Boyd, who weighted a terrific pass back into the path of the midfielder.

Law had continued his run into the box and fired a low, right foot shot across keeper Robbie Thomson into the corner of the net.

It was a goal to settle the nerves on a such a narrow pitch and Cowdenbeath were so shell-shocked their poor tannoy announcer credited the goal to Kenny Miller, who may be a poacher supreme, but would still stop short of taking that one.

However, if anything, it was the home side who reacted better to the opener and winger Kudas Oyenuga, on loan from Dundee United, was finding rich pickings against Richard Foster down the left.

In fact, Cowdenbeath should have equalised on 15 minutes when he skinned the full-back again, but Sean Higgins could not connect properly from six yards and the Rangers defence bundled clear.

McCoist’s men appeared to take heed and Miller raced clear from a long Steve Simonsen kick out, but defender Marcus Fraser threw his body in front of the striker and deflected his volley inches over the top.

Still, the home side were refusing to stand on ceremony and should have equalised after hald an hour when Declan hughes played in Higgins after some porous defending in the centre of the Rangers rearguard.

The midfielder had only Simonsen to beat, but lacked composure when it mattered most and sclaffed a shot off the outside of the keeper’s left hand post when he should have hit the target.

Rangers almost put the game out of sight within a minute of the re-start when Lee McCulloch cracked a volley towards the bottom corner from 18 yards off a Steve Smith corner, but Dean Brett was on the line to boot his effort clear.

However, the match was effectively over as a contest on 55 minutes when Rangers grabbed a stunning second - off the head of Cowdenbeath central defender Kyle Miller.

Former Blue Brazil star Darren McGregor broke from the back and played a pass out wide to Boyd on the right. His delivery was decent enough, but Miller somehow conspired to nod the ball powerfully into his own net from eight yards off the underside of the bar under little pressure in the box.

In fairness, he almost made amends within 60 seconds when he fired a low free kick from 35 yards towards the inside of Simonsen’s right hand post, but the keeper dived at full stretch to push it round the post.